Malian army detains leaders, triggering coup fears

By AFP
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Published May 26, 2021

BAMAKO: Malian officers upset with a government reshuffle have detained the president and prime minister at an army camp outside the capital, triggering broad international condemnation and demands for their immediate release.President Bah Ndaw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane lead an interim government that was installed under the threat of regional sanctions following a putsch in August, and the detentions on Monday raised fears of a second coup. Two senior officials, who declined to be named, told AFP that soldiers had taken Ndaw and Ouane to the Kati military camp on the outskirts of the capital Bamako. Their detentions followed a sensitive government reshuffle earlier on Monday that was designed to respond to growing criticism of the interim government. The military kept the strategic portfolios it controlled during the previous administration in the reshuffle. But two coup leaders -- ex-defence minister Sadio Camara and ex-security minister Colonel Modibo Kone -- were replaced. Coup leaders and army officers have wielded significant influence over the government, casting doubts on a pledge to hold elections by early next year. Earlier, a joint statement by the United Nations, African Union, Economic Community of West African States, the EU and the US condemned the arrests and called for their "immediate and unconditional liberty". Later UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres tweeted a call for calm, and urged the "unconditional release" of the leaders.

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